Voltron: Legendary Defender: 10 of our favorite season 8 moments

Get the tissues and pints of ice cream ready because the final season of Voltron is available to stream on Netflix, and it is an emotional roller coaster ride through space from beginning to end.

This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. The final 13 episodes of Voltron: Legendary Defender are finally here. It’s been quite the journey these past few years, following 5 unique Paladins and their quest to bring down tyrannical forces across the vast universe. There have been countless moments of laughter, joy, heartbreak, and tears.

Before we say goodbye to our defenders of the universe, we compiled a list of our top 10 favorite moments from the final season.

Allura and Lance’s first kiss

It’s the last night before people head off into another war. With the help of Hunk, Lance finally asks out Allura. It’s a moment we’ve been wanting to see ever since Lance started crushing on her back in the first season. Allura never suspected a thing until her friendly mice friends brought it to her attention a few seasons ago. Things between her and Lance started becoming more obvious to her after that, but the fight against the Galra kept taking priority. Not this time.

As Lance and Allura walk through a desolate park during their date, she takes the time to restore the park to its natural state with her abilities, and it’s ,  genius moment of foreshadowing when you think about it.

Allura opens up and shares how she’s worried about her future, since everyone else has families and a home to turn to once the war is done. Hearing this gives Lance the courage to confess his love for her and how he wants her to be part of his family. The confession hits us right in the feels. It all leads up to the long-awaited kiss and we couldn’t be happier that it finally happens.

Lotor’s banishment

When Lotor was first introduced to the series, we found out he had been banished by Emperor Zarkon. We didn’t know why he was cast out until now. Turns out, Lotor was acquiring the quintessence the Galra Empire needed, but he was doing it the wrong way — at least, according to Zarkon.

Lotor had been working alongside a peaceful species, who were technically subjects of the Galra Empire, instead of ruling over them with an iron fist. He claimed he was doing it the way his mother’s people would have done things, the Altean way. Learning this truth infuriates Zarkon.

Lotor refuses to change his tactics, but his words motivate Zarkon into destroying the planet. Horrified by his father’s actions, Lotor is banished because of his failure. We chose this moment because it demonstrates how Lotor had some good in him and how he was willing to co-exist with the Galra Empire’s subjects. He committed some terrible actions himself throughout the series, but this revelation puts things into perspective and reinforces how he truly hated his Galra roots.

Old gives way to the new

Our hearts go out to the Olkari, a species who are super advanced and incredibly wise. Losing their home planet twice over tugged at our heartstrings, and the lesson at the end made us cry.

Because of Pidge’s connection to the planet, she is able to witness the last moments before the planet was destroyed. She stands by as Ryner, the leader of the Olkari and her friend, comforts a young child and tells them, “The old must give way to the new. It’s the way of the universe.”

A selfless leader to the end, she watches her people flee as she stays behind. Again, this is another brilliant moment of foreshadowing. While we’re sad to see a gorgeous planet and an even more amazing person perish through violent means, Ryner looked to the future with much optimism and hope that her people will live to adapt and move forward.

It’s such a beautiful message and most definitely a top favorite moment.

Zethrid and Ezor reunited

Last time we saw Lotor’s ex-generals, they were fighting against each other: Zethrid and Ezor vs. Acxa and Keith. The epic battle ended in an explosion, and we thought Zethrid and Ezor were gone for good.

Turns out, that’s not the case. They both survived, but things from that point forward changed. Ezor didn’t want to fight anymore, but Zethrid let the rage consume her. This forced the couple apart and sent Zethrid into a spiral, trying to find and eliminate Keith, the source of what tore her and her lover apart.

Earlier in the episode, Acxa and Lance’s sister, Veronica, had a meaningful conversation about how people, especially the Galra, are capable of change. The theme comes back around at the end when Ezor pops up beside Acxa, having also chosen a different path for herself. The hope now is that Zethrid will do the same because as Acxa and Veronica discussed, it’s possible to turn one’s life around.

Lotor’s return

Lotor was a complex and tragic character. We know he committed unspeakable acts to achieve an end, but he also tried to do things as altruistically as possible. When he faced off with Voltron in season 6, the quintessence field enhanced his uglier and misguided intentions and turned him mad.

He was ultimately left behind in the field, and many of us thought he was still alive somehow. Boy, were we wrong. Part of Honerva’s grand scheme this entire time was to bring back Lotor’s Voltron-esque weapon, the Sincline Mech. It hit us like a ton of bricks when we finally realized what she was doing. It was also creepy to discover a very dead Lotor inside.

While it’s a major momentary loss for the Voltron Coalition, it’s also a top favorite moment for us because it’s almost like the impossible just happened. And to add onto it, you can hear the dread in Allura’s voice when Lotor’s machine turns up.